Maha Min directs cops to file plaints

The state government is mulling to direct all district civil protection rights (CPR) centres to register any citizen’s complaint regarding virginity tests at police stations. The Minister of state for home, Ranjeet Patil, confirmed the development, saying the government has asked all district police station to register complaints.

Patil said the virginity test complaints should be treated as harassment against the woman cases and the complaints should be filed. CPR centres should review the cases against the caste Panchayat at district levels. After consultations with the Law and Judiciary department, a circular will be issued declaring it a punishable offence.

The Shiv Sena spokesperson, Neelam Gorhe led a delegation of some social organisations met the state home minister over the issue at Mantralaya on Wednesday. The certain communities in Maharashtra follow a demeaning custom whereby a newlywed woman has to prove she was virgin prior to the marriage.

In 2018, Mrs Gorhe had raised the issue of virginity test of brides of the Kanjarbhat community in the council.

An officer of the home department said that all the districts’ police and CPR centres will be informed to very whether the case falls under the Sexual harassment Act 2013 and Maharashtra Protection of People form Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016. Once that is done, we will ask to file an FIR. “The government is considering whether both Acts would be invoked or not,” he added.

According to the officials, it has been revealed in the meeting that the cases of caste Panchayat (caste specific jury) had been increased. The interference of the caste panchayat has also increased in every caste. Gorhe said that, as the cases have not been filed against the caste Panchayat, the government should take a stern against them. She demanded that the protection against women cell should take a case against them.